Opinion

Forget politics. This is what I found helping Venezuelan quake victims

Eager volunteers drove 10 hours to help out with search-and-rescue teams

By Drew Friedrich Fox News

Published July 13, 2026 7:00am EDT

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Venezuela earthquake victim rescued alive after 8 days trapped beneath rubble

A 43-year-old security guard in Venezuela was rescued from the ruins of a shopping center on Thursday after being trapped beneath its rubble for eight days following back-to-back earthquakes that killed more than 2,200 people. (Credit: Reuters)

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Before I traveled to Venezuela to help with earthquake relief, I carried certain expectations with me. I went to help with Operation Blessing, the humanitarian organization I'm privileged to lead. Like a lot of Americans, most of what I knew about Venezuela came from headlines.

Years of stories about political turmoil, economic collapse and government dysfunction had quietly shaped the picture in my mind. I expected to find a country running on "empty." I expected suspicion and a harsh welcome. What I actually found was something else entirely.

I found one of the most beautiful countries I've ever set foot in. And more than that, I found some of the most resilient, generous people I've ever had the privilege of meeting. In community after community, I watched neighbors care for neighbors while having almost nothing themselves.

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Taxi drivers drove 10 hours just to........

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